(Ilorin)
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners of Nigeria (NAGGMDP), Kogi chapter, has kicked against the proposed payment of percentage salary to its members by the Kogi State Government.
NAGGMDP is an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) with membership predominantly comprising doctors working in, but not limited to secondary health institutions.
The Chairman of NAGGMDP in the state, Dr Abubakar Hassan,who made call in a statement in Lokoja urged Governor Yahaya Bello to rescind his decision on the proposal and look inward for alternative source of funds to pay workers.
Hassan noted that even though the association was yet to be officially communicated to about the proposed salary cut, the rumour had been in the media that the State Government intended to cut civil servants’ salary by 50 per cent.
Quoting media reports further,he said the proposed decision was due to the dwindling revenue accruing to state, occasioned by the global pandemic.
”At a time when workers need encouragement for optimum performance, NAGGMDP will not accept any wage cut of its members. We totally reject the proposed wage cuts.
”Government is advised to explore all avenues, it can, to source for funds and pay salaries of doctors,” he said.
The association also urged the State Government to immediately do more to check the perpetual exodus of doctors from the State, by ensuring immediate implementation of Relativity, Skipping and Corrected CONMESS for its members.
”The gaps created by exodus of these doctors are yet to be filled.
”It’s quite commendable that government has steadily been righting the perceived wrongs of the past by correcting all previous cases of irregularities and paying salaries on schedule in the past couple of months. This should be sustained.
”It becomes inexplicable that at a time when many state governments are trying to do more to encourage health workers to boost their morale, , our government is tinkering with the idea of wage cuts.
”We call on the Governor to rescind his decision and look inward for alternative source of funds to pay workers.
”This is the only way to make workers motivated to join hands in the fight against the pandemic. It’s also one way of changing people’s views about GYB,” he said.
The association further enjoined the state government to encourage the current leadership of the State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), under Dr.Zakari Usman, to enable it take secondary healthcare delivery in Kogi to the desired level.
The NAGGMDP, however commended the efforts of the Federal and Kogi State Governments in combating the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic, while urging it to sustain the tempo and do more.
The association further advised the state government to be more proactive, interms of preparedness to handle out break of the pandemic, incase of any;as exemplified by Lagos and Kano states.
